Public Relations > News: Contract Negotiations > Souderton Area Education Association; Tripartite Arbitration Panel Issues Arbitration Award

As of 12:05p.m. on Friday, April 17, 2009, the tripartite arbitration panel consisting of Donald Atkiss, Mark Fitzgerald, and Chair Rochelle Kaplan issued its recommendations on the final best offers issued by both the Souderton Area School Board and the Souderton Area Education Association.

Under the terms of Act 88 of 1992, the Arbitration Award is confidential until both the Souderton Area School Board and the Souderton Area Education Association initially vote on the Report. Both parties are required to vote on the Report not less than five (5) calendar days nor more than ten (10) calendar days following the issuance of the Report. The Souderton Area School Board plans to vote on the Report at its regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday, April 23, 2009. The District does not know when the Souderton Area Education Association plans to vote on the Report.

Both the School Board and the Association are required to vote on the Recommendations as a package. They cannot pick and choose as to the Recommendations made by the arbitration panel.

If both the Souderton Area School Board and the Souderton Area Education Association approve the Recommendations, the parties will have a binding Collective Bargaining Agreement. On the other hand, if either the Souderton Area School Board or the Souderton Area Education Association rejects the Report, the Report will then be published and distributed to the media by the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board, and the parties will be required to vote again on the Recommendations. Only parties that have rejected the Report will have to vote on it again. The voting period will be not less than five (5) days nor more than ten (10) calendar days after the public issuance of the Arbitration Award.